Analysis of Factors Causing Depression among Administrative Staff
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Marselina Bellanita Reda(1)
Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Nusa Cendana University
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Marselino Kharitas Purna Abdi Keraf(2)
Faculty of Public Health, Nusa Cendana University
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Dwita Anastasia Deo(3)
Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Nusa Cendana University
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Nicholas Edwin Handoyo(4*)
Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Nusa Cendana University
(*) Corresponding Author
Keywords:
Administrative staff, Depression, Psychological well-being, Work environment, Work-life balance
Abstract
Occupational depression is a global issue impacting productivity, yet attention to administrative staff in higher education remains limited. A preliminary survey at Nusa Cendana University indicated that 28% of administrative staff exhibited symptoms of depression. This study aimed to analyze the determinants of such depression by examining psychological well-being, work-life balance, and work environment. Using a qualitative design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with six administrative staff members identified with depression and analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Results identified three key themes: personal life interference with work because of family dysfunction, workplace ambivalence as a stressor, emotional escape, and manifestations of psychological collapse. It is concluded that depression among administrative staff represents a complex interaction between personal life issues and institutional pressures. These findings highlight the urgency of interventions through the development and implementation of policies that support mental health.
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References
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Schieman, S., Milkie, M. A., & Glavin, P. (2009). When work interferes with life: Work-nonwork interference and the influence of work-related demands and resources. American Sociological Review, 74(6), 966–988.
Smith, C. P., & Freyd, J. J. (2014). Institutional betrayal. American Psychologist, 69(6), 575–584. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037564
Suwarsi, S., Ridwan, R., & Fauzan, N. (2025). Evaluating workload impacts on lecturer mental health and productivity in Indonesian private universities: A case study from Bandung. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2025045
Theorell, T., Hammarström, A., Aronsson, G., Träskman Bendz, L., Grape, T., Hogstedt, C., Marteinsdottir, I., Skoog, I., & Hall, C. (2015). A systematic review including meta-analysis of work environment and depressive symptoms. In BMC Public Health Journal (Vol. 15, Number 1). BioMed Central Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1954-4
Wathen, C. N., MacGregor, J. C. D., & MacQuarrie, B. J. (2015). The impact of domestic violence in the workplace: Results from a Pan-Canadian survey. In Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Vol. 57, Number 7, pp. e65–e71). Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000499
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Ardelia, D., & Pramiyanti, A. (2025). Double burden in the era of globalization: The case of women workers in Indonesia. TOPLAMA (Jurnal Komunikasi dan Pengabdian Masyarakat), 3(1). https://altinriset.com/journal/index.php/
Arias-Flores, H., Guadalupe-Lanas, J., Pérez-Vega, D., Artola-Jarrín, V., & Cruz-Cárdenas, J. (2022). Emotional state of teachers and university administrative staff in the return to face-to-face mode. Behavioral Sciences, 12(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12110420
Ayu Indah, B., Alfrida Lagur, G., Riani, V., Luh Sri Diana Pramesti, N., & Made Mahaardhika, I. (2026). Problematika Relasi Mertua dan Ipar sebagai Faktor Konflik Rumah Tangga di Kota Gianyar. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Humaniora, 2(1), 546–550. https://doi.org/10.63822/mqdxj676
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. In Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health (Vol. 11, Number 4, pp. 589–597). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
Byron, K. (2005). A meta-analytic review of work-family conflict and its antecedents. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 67(2), 169–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2004.08.009
Fisher, G. G., Bulger, C. A., & Smith, C. S. (2009). Beyond work and family: A measure of work/nonwork interference and enhancement. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 14(4), 441–456. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016737
Harvey, S. B., Glozier, N., Henderson, M., Allaway, S., Litchfield, P., Holland-Elliott, K., & Hotopf, M. (2011). Depression and work performance: An ecological study using web-based screening. J Occupational Medicine, 61(3), 209–211. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqr020
Health Promoting University. (2024). Report of mental health screening of civitas academica Universitas Nusa Cendana (Unpublished report).
Hollan, D. (2013). Coping in plain sight: Work as a local response to event-related emotional distress in contemporary U.S. society. Transcultural Psychiatry, 50(5), 726–743. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461513488077
Jeanfreau, M., Noguchi, K., Mong, M. D., & Stadthagen, H. (2018). Financial infidelity in couple relationships. Journal of Financial Therapy, 9(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.4148/1944-9771.1159
Jyoti, & Verma, O. (2022). The impact of poor work life balance on employees health, organisation and society. International Journal of Research in Finance and Management, 5(2), 01–08. https://doi.org/10.33545/26175754.2022.v5.i2a.143
Kotera, Y., Lieu, J., Kirkman, A., Barnes, K., Liu, G. H. T., Jackson, J., Wilkes, J., & Riswani, R. (2022). Mental well-being of Indonesian students: Mean comparison with UK students and relationships with self-compassion and academic engagement. Healthcare (Switzerland), 10(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081439
Kurtuluş, E., Yıldırım Kurtuluş, H., Birel, S., & Batmaz, H. (2023). The effect of social support on work-life balance: The role of psychological well-being. International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 10(1), 239–249. https://doi.org/10.33200/ijcer.1152323
Loretto, W., Popham, F., Platt, S., Pavis, S., Hardy, G., MacLeod, L., & Gibbs, J. (2005). Assessing psychological well-being: A holistic investigation of NHS employees. International Review of Psychiatry, 17(5), 329–336. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540260500238371
Manaf, M. R. A., Shaharuddin, M. A. A., Nawi, A. M., Tauhid, N. M., Othman, H., Rahman, M. R. A., Yusoff, H. M., Safian, N., Ng, P. Y., Manaf, Z. A., Kadir, N. B. A., Yanasegaran, K., Basir, S. M. A., Ramakrishnappa, S., Ariff, M. I., & Ganasegeran, K. (2021). Perceived symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress amongst staff in a Malaysian public university: A workers survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211874
Patrick, H. A., & Kareem, J. (2021). Development and validation of work environment services scale (WESS). In Central European Management Journal (Vol. 29, Number 2, pp. 89–120). Sciendo. https://doi.org/10.7206/cemj.2658-0845.47
Ramadhani Taufiq, F., Mustika Amin, A., Sayu Puspitaningsih Dipoatmodjo, T., Imran Musa, C., & Widhi Kurniawan, A. (2023). The influence of physical work environment and non-physical work environment on employee work satisfaction at The BKPSDMD agency of Makassar city. Social Sciences and Business, 2(4), 591–599. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55047/jhssb
Ramadianto, A. S., Kusumadewi, I., Agiananda, F., & Raharjanti, N. W. (2022). Symptoms of depression and anxiety in Indonesian medical students: association with coping strategy and resilience. BMC Psychiatry, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-03745-1
Rusli, N. H., Anua, S. M., Endarti, A. T., Amin, W. S. H. W. M., Mazlan, N., & Ibrahim, T. A. E. (2023). Occupational Stress among Academicians between Two Selected Universities in Malaysia and Indonesia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study. Kesmas: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat Nasional, 18(1), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.21109/kesmas.v18isp1.7052
Ryff, C. D. (1995). Psychological well-being in adult life. In Psychological Science (Vol. 4, Number 4).
Ryff, C. D., Lee, C., & Keyes, M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727.
Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. (1996). Psychological Well-Being: Meaning, Measurement, and Implications for Psychotherapy Research.
Schieman, S., Milkie, M. A., & Glavin, P. (2009). When work interferes with life: Work-nonwork interference and the influence of work-related demands and resources. American Sociological Review, 74(6), 966–988.
Smith, C. P., & Freyd, J. J. (2014). Institutional betrayal. American Psychologist, 69(6), 575–584. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037564
Suwarsi, S., Ridwan, R., & Fauzan, N. (2025). Evaluating workload impacts on lecturer mental health and productivity in Indonesian private universities: A case study from Bandung. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2025045
Theorell, T., Hammarström, A., Aronsson, G., Träskman Bendz, L., Grape, T., Hogstedt, C., Marteinsdottir, I., Skoog, I., & Hall, C. (2015). A systematic review including meta-analysis of work environment and depressive symptoms. In BMC Public Health Journal (Vol. 15, Number 1). BioMed Central Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1954-4
Wathen, C. N., MacGregor, J. C. D., & MacQuarrie, B. J. (2015). The impact of domestic violence in the workplace: Results from a Pan-Canadian survey. In Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Vol. 57, Number 7, pp. e65–e71). Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000499
World Health Organization. (2024, September 2). Mental health at work. World Health Organization.
Wray, S., & Kinman, G. (2021). Supporting Staff Well-being in Higher Education. www.educationsupport.org.uk
Zaghmout, B. (2024). Unmasking toxic leadership: Identifying, addressing, and preventing destructive leadership behaviours in modern organizations. Open Journal of Leadership, 13(03), 244–265. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojl.2024.133015
Published
2026-06-22
How to Cite
Reda, M., Keraf, M., Deo, D., & Handoyo, N. (2026). Analysis of Factors Causing Depression among Administrative Staff. Journal of Health and Behavioral Science, 8(1), 47-64. https://doi.org/10.35508/jhbs.v8i1.27215
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Articles
Copyright (c) 2026 Marselina Bellanita Reda, Marselino Kharitas Purna Abdi Keraf, Dwita Anastasia Deo, Nicholas Edwin Handoyo
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